Emerging Lawyer of the Year Award (formerly known as the Young Lawyer of the Year Award)

In 2005 Rahima Wahidi, at age 11, arrived in Australia as a refugee from Afghanistan.

She had never attended school before coming to Australia, but unflagging work ethic drove her to excel at school and university, and she graduated law in 2018.

Rahima is a solicitor at the Northern Community Legal Service (NCLS), a not-for-profit organisation providing legal assistance to underprivileged and vulnerable people. Her work focuses on victims of domestic violence and refugees, and she also helps vulnerable clients in family law matters such as divorce, property settlement, and parenting arrangements.

Rahima completed a scholarship with AMES Australia on the Prevention of Violence Against Women in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities.

Beyond her primary role, Rahima is deeply committed to assisting refugees, drawing from her personal experiences. She offers advice and representation in immigration matters, helping individuals on temporary refugee visas secure permanent residency. Recognising a gap in services, Rahima last year initiated an outreach service in collaboration with a refugee organisation, which continues to operate successfully. In June 2024, she started another outreach through a local government school to provide generalist law services.

Rahima actively engages in community legal education initiatives, often volunteering her time to attend community events and raise awareness about available legal support.

Her work earned her the Young Women’s Community and Spirit Award in 2020.

Zainab Al-Sweedy

Zainab Al-Sweedy was nine when she fled Saddam Hussein’s regime, so it is no surprise that she is now passionate about educating Iraqi women.

Her fraught journey to Australia by boat, which resulted in her and her family spending 11 months at Woomera Detention Centre before being settled in Adelaide, shaped her desire to help others in similar situations.

She is now a prominent immigration lawyer who is committed to helping people who have fled their previous home countries. In particular, Zainab has helped a significant number of people who escaped Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover in 2021.

Zainab has packed so much into her short career, including helping her family set up hospitality venues (including the beloved Levant) and a stint in Dubai to work as the Executive Assistant to the Senior Vice President of Emirates Airlines.

Zainab also practises in wills and estates and hosts regular seminars for the Adelaide Iraqi community, with a focus on educating Iraqi women about their rights in succession law.

Raffaele Piccolo

Raffaele is a barrister practising predominantly criminal law. He is a member of the Law Society Council, Chair of the Society’s Human Rights Committee, and member of the Corporate Governance Committee, Criminal Law Committee, and Governance Structure Working Group.

Raffaele is a prolific contributor to the Law Society’s advocacy activities, regularly proving detailed and thoughtful submissions on legal issues, especially those concerning human rights, that guide the Society’s advocacy. He has been at the forefront of the Law Society’s advocacy on numerous issues that impact people’s human rights. He is a member of the Committee of the Law Foundation of SA. He teaches in the Law Society GDLP, is a mentor for law students at the University of Adelaide and volunteers a judge for the Law Society’s mock trial competition.

Raffaele is also a volunteer member of the Discipline and Appeals Committee for Football SA, the Human Research Ethics Committees at Torrens University Australia, and the Central Adelaide Local Health Network.

At a national level Raffaele is a member of the Law Council of Australia’s Business and Human Rights Committee, and a member of the inaugural Volleyball Australia Internal Sports Tribunal. Raffaele has authored more than 330 headnotes for the Federal Law Reports, Federal Court Reports, Australian Criminal Reports, and SA State Reports. Raffaele is also a member of the Membership Review Committee for Amnesty International. Raffaele is also a member of the South Australian Bar Association.

David Kelly is a young barrister who has made outstanding and impactful contributions to the profession and the community since he was admitted to practise in 2013.

With funding from the Adelaide University, David and academic Margaret Castles are conducting ongoing research into the efficacy of the pre action protocols introduced under the Uniform Civil Rules 2020, in particular whether, since the commencement of the protocols, fewer matters are being litigated and of those litigated, whether settlements are occurring sooner. 

Since 2015, David has actively contributed to the Society’s Civil Litigation Committee and contributed two articles to the Society’s flagship journal, the Bulletin. He also regularly contributes the South Australian State Reports, Federal Court Reports, Federal Law Reports and Industrial Reports as a law reporter, having reported over 100 court decisions to date, including cases appealed to the High Court. 

In addition to his contributions to the profession, David contributes widely to the community. He works on an ongoing basis as a casual academic at Flinders University in Business Law, Civil Litigation, Contract, Introduction to Legal Principle and Torts; and mentors senior law students and graduates. He has participated in panel discussions for the benefit of law students by speaking on career options and mental health issues, and wrote a detailed paper for the Flinders Law Students’ Association Alumni Guide about managing expectations when transitioning to practice. 

Antonella Rodriguez is a young family lawyer who excelled in her first role as Associate to Justice Berman in the Family Court of Australia and continued to impress at her current firm, Tolis & Co. As an associate, Antonella was heavily involved in the Judicial Council on Cultural Diversity’s efforts to improve services to culturally diverse participants in the justice system.

Antonella also volunteered with the Red Cross Emergency Services, assisting people to access shelter, resources, and emergency funds and reuniting families following the 2020 bushfires and in numerous other environmental organisations, giving back to her community.

Patrick McCabe was admitted in 2012 and is a Senior Associate at Lieschke & Weatherill Lawyers whose practice focuses on representing workers and unions in employment, industrial and workers compensation matters. Patrick’s career highlights include:

• forming part of the legal team for the successful respondent in Google Inc. v Duffy, a Supreme Court appeal in which a precedent was set concerning search engine liability for defamatory search results;
• acting as sole counsel for a worker in a successful underpayment action against the owner of OTR petrol stations. Following an unsuccessful appeal by the employer, a class action involving a number of OTR workers has now commenced, relying partially on his case; and
• acting as sole counsel for a Chinatown chef in a wage underpayment case in which the restaurant and its managers were ordered to pay pecuniary penalties totaling $230,000.

Patrick is also studying a Master of Laws, conducting research on Indigenous rights which has been published in the Oxford University Commonwealth Law Journal and awarded Melbourne Law School’s Published Research Prize for best published research by a Masters student. Some of his previous work concerning native title was published in the Australian Indigenous Law Review and has been cited in submissions to Commonwealth Parliamentary Committee inquiries. His Masters research concerning constitutional law will soon be published in a forthcoming issue of the Federal Law Review.

Patrick has acted as a volunteer migration agent for the Refugee Advocacy Service of South Australia (2016-2017), and a tutor to Indigenous law students at Adelaide University (2014-2016). At his previous firm, Patrick studied SACE Stage 1 (Year 11) Pitjantjatjara for a year through the SA School of Languages, in order to assist the firm’s work with Indigenous communities.

Since her admission to practise in 2016, Brittany has made an outstanding contribution to the community, particularly in the area of at risk and disadvantaged youth.

 

Brittany has pursued the current failings of our Youth Court system to address the specific issues of young people who may be doli incapax. She has raised the failures of the system in relation to the care of children, especially in State care, with those responsible both in and outside government. In 2019, she co-presented a CPD paper on the presumption of doli incapax which raised important issues in relation to the failure by lawyers, police and other agencies involved with youth justice and child protection, to consider the presumption in dealing with youths under 14.

 

Four the past four years, Brittany has been instrumental to the delivery of the Ice Factor Program which, over 14 years, has touched the lives of over 2000 at risk high school students. Brittany was singularly responsible for organising the 2018 Ice Factor Spectacular, the Ice Factor’s biennial fundraiser, which was a tremendous success. Brittany also regularly gives speeches at other Ice Factor events, including to current and potential sponsors to raise more funds for Ice Factor.

 

Brittany is well respected by her peers and colleagues and has made a name for herself as a leading junior criminal lawyer. Brittany was recognised for her achievements as a criminal solicitor by being awarded the top 30 Under 30 Criminal Lawyer in Australia Award. 

As Director and Founder of MPS Law, Michael is an agent of change for his Indigenous clients and has made significant contributions to Indigenous communities and the development of native title law. This includes the resolution of several native title claims and the finalisation of Australia’s first successful native title compensation determination, which has paved the way for future native title compensation applications. 

Michael has recently been working on the confidential negotiation of a large-scale native title settlement involving approximately 10,000 Traditional Owners in WA. 

In 2017 Michael provided over 300 hours of pro bono services to unfunded Indigenous clients; and he has followed that up with another approximately 350 hours in 2018, to date.   

Testimonials from those who have worked alongside Michael include that he 

• “… has demonstrated a rare blend of ethical integrity, high competency across the full native title spectrum, commitment to quality outcomes for clients and a deep understanding of the nuance of our operating context ...".
• is “… knowledgeable and professional in his interaction with claimant members through his compassion and strong respect for our culture and connection to our country.” 
• “.. is thorough and methodical with a sound knowledge of native title and corporations law. He also has high level communications skills and in particular is able to effectively communicate complex legal concepts...He has a friendly and reassuring demeanour which assists him to develop that critical relationship of trust between himself and the clients.”

Adrian Cartland is the creator of Ailira, the Artificially Intelligent Legal Information Research Assistant, which automates legal research and advice via use of algorithms. Ailira is currently used by hundreds of Australian tax advisers from ‘Big 4’ to small practices.  Ailira has been taught to provide tailored legal information to consumers, initially in the areas of domestic violence, business structuring and wills and estates.  Adrian won SA Government funding to deliver a prototype of Ailira to assist victims of domestic violence and has continued to himself fund the development.  By providing free (or cheap), convenient and fast legal information and assistance, Ailira helps to deliver access to justice to those who may not have been able to afford it.  

Adrian has held specialised women’s self defence courses and contributed to books on female self-defence.  

In 2007 Adrian won the National Golden Gavel competition with the persona of “The Taxinator”.  He is also an in-demand speaker on artificial intelligence and the future of the legal and service industry, presenting almost bi-weekly at various local, national and international seminars and conferences.

Natalie has made significant contributions to the legal profession, community and as an advocate for equitable treatment for those with disabilities in the workforce. 

In 2015, through her work as a solicitor at the Child Protection Systems Royal Commission, Natalie examined the laws, policies and procedures surrounding the State’s child protection system and their impact on vulnerable families and children in care.  Notably, her contribution on the topic of vulnerable children who identify with a disability was valuable to the work of the Commission.

Natalie has dedicated much of her time to research relating to participation of individuals with communication disabilities in courts.  Her research advocated for the implementation of judicial training on obtaining evidence from witnesses with communication disabilities.  Following the introduction of the SA Disability Justice Plan, Natalie prepared a comparative analysis, published in the Alternative Law Journal, of the law reform in South Australian and Commonwealth jurisdictions to evaluate their effectiveness in upholding the international human rights of people with communication disabilities.  Natalie also advocates for greater physical access in courts and offices for those with a disability.

Natalie is an active member of the community, particularly in initiatives that promote inclusion for individuals with disability.  She was involved in the steering committee for AFL4ME, a program run by the Intellectual Disability Association of SA.  The Program provides free VIP tickets and corporate suites for Adelaide AFL games to children with disabilities and their families. 

Natalie is also a volunteer with the Refugee Advocacy Service of SA and an advisory member to Every Women, Everywhere Campaign; a Campaign advocating for a treaty on violence against women.  At the time of the Award's presentation, Natalie was assisting to draft a memo to the UN, focusing on the section “implementation and assessment”

Natalie has shown that having a disability does not prevent someone from helping others and achieving a great deal.  She is a fantastic role model for young people with a disability, is a wonderful young lawyer and very deserving of this award.

The following is a summary of Emily Sims' achievements that led to her winning the 2015 Young Lawyers’ Award

Emily Sims received the Gray Young Lawyers’ Award for her exceptional commitment and dedication to improving outcomes in the legal profession and in world-wide communities.  

Emily has volunteered for the United Nations, working for prosecution in the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.  Additionally, she has volunteered as a mentor in Flinders University’s “Connect” Program and at the Hutt Street Centre and is an ambassador for One Girl, a charity which seeks to educate girls in Sierra Leone.  She is an active member of the Attorney-General’s Department Foundation Committee and was the State Coordinator for Step Out South Australia, a charity which raises funds for development projects in vulnerable communities, prior to her volunteer work in Cambodia.

Emily graduated from Law School with First Class Honours and a University Medial in 2010 and went on to become associate to the Honourable Justice Gray’s in the Supreme Court of South Australia.  Since June 2014, she has been employed with the South Australian Attorney-General’s Department.  She also currently holds the position of Assistant Editor of the South Australian State Reports.

Emily is currently a member of the Women Lawyers’ Association of South Australia and Australian Lawyers for Human Rights and remains an active volunteer for a number of charities and organisations.  With drive, passion and commitment such as hers, the Gray Young Lawyers’ Award was very much deserved.

The following is a summary of Claire Victory’s achievements that led to her winning the 2014 Young Lawyers’ Award

Claire Victory had worked as a salary solicitor with Duddy Shopov Lawyers since 2008.  She had developed her own practice in litigation matters particularly involving Personal Injury, Insurance, Work Place Safety, Employment, Discrimination and Industrial Law.

In 2013, while still working full time as a solicitor, Claire had completed a Vocational Graduate Diploma in Family Dispute Resolution. She had also completed a Graduate Certificate in Loss, Grief & Trauma Counselling in 2010.  

Claire had carried the conduct of matters in the Industrial Relations Court, the Fair Work Commission, the District Court of South Australia, the Equal Opportunity Commission and the Workers Compensation Tribunal, and had been involved in all stages of trial preparation and presentation.

Claire had been a Member of the Young Lawyers Committee since October 2008, having played a significant role in the development of the Committee and its profile. Claire had been co-chair since January 2013 and had had particular influence and involvement in the promotion of wellbeing and education activities for young lawyers, and in initiatives aimed at bridging the gap between the law schools and the legal profession. She had participated in discussion aimed at improving support to rural members.

Claire had managed work experience and Practical Legal Training placements within Duddy Shopov, including supervising and mentoring those students. She regularly met with law students, job seekers and newly admitted practitioners to provide advice and guidance, as well as encouragement and personal support,

As a mock trial coach since 2002, Claire had had a special involvement with St Marys College and Cabra College, advising them on court etiquette, procedure and trial preparation as well as providing encouragement and professional advice to the students.

Since May 2011, Claire had served as a Vice President of the National Council of the St Vincent de Paul Society.

In addition to the demands of her legal practice and her Young Lawyers Committee co-chair duty, coaching and professional activities, Claire had devoted a great deal of her personal time over the past 20 years, especially her present role as National Vice-President, to helping the poor and furthering the aspirations and values of the St Vincent de Paul Society.

In March 2014 Claire had represented the Australian National Council at the St Vincent de Paul International Council General board meeting in Paris.

Claire was described by her peers as an unassuming, diligent and a "quiet achiever" who did not seek recognition for her contribution to the profession and the Community, who was a credit to the profession. 

Paul Gordon

The following is a summary of Paul Gordon’s achievements that led to him winning the 2013 Young Lawyers’ Award (jointly with Stephen Mitchell). 

Paul Gordon was employed at Finlaysons.  He had previously been an Associate to White J at the Supreme Court where he was instrumental in assisting the reform of the system for submitting and hyperlinking lists of authorities.  On returning to Finlaysons he prepared and disseminated instructional videos on this. He actively conjured ideas to promote the firm’s IP practice and had brought in several significant clients. Paul was actively involved in numerous mentoring programs – formally & informally.

Paul had drafted Finlayson’s pro bono policy, which he had successfully lobbied to the CEO and managing board. He was presently a Member of the implementation committee and had helped establish the systems.

Paul was on the board of the Adelaide Hebrew Congregation and had co-founded an online ticket-selling business.

As a thought leader on IP Paul presented to the legal and business community and had been asked to speak on social media issues by industry and radio.

Stephen Mitchell

The following is a summary of Stephen Mitchell’s achievements that led to him winning the 2013 Young Lawyers’ Award (jointly with Paul Gordon). 

Stephen Mitchell was a barrister at Anthony Mason Chambers who had achieved significant recognition and success as a junior counsel, quickly developing a busy and successful practice at the Bar representing a wide cross-section of members of the community.

As a solicitor, amongst other things, Stephen had co-founded a young professional networking group known as “Tier 1”.  At the Bar he had co-founded Renew Adelaide Incorporated and was presently its Chairperson.  Renew Adelaide had grown and had had a significant effect on the cultural life of Adelaide, as widely recognised across government, community & industrial sectors, winning both state and national awards.

Stephen was a member of the Bar Council of SA Bar Association, a member of the Law Society’s Professional Development Advisory Group and a member of the Young Lawyers’ Support Group. Stephen regularly provided pro bono advice with respect to victims of crime.

The following is a summary of Alison Harris’s achievements that led to her winning the 2012 Young Lawyers’ Award-

Alison was employed within the Crown Counsel section of the Crown Solicitor’s Office.  She provided a full range of counsel services including written and oral opinions (often on complex questions of law); drafting and settling court documents such as pleadings, affidavits, applications, written submissions and notices of appeal.  She had appeared as 

• junior counsel to various senior counsel in a variety of jurisdictions including the High Court; 
• counsel in the Industrial Magistrates, Magistrates, District and Supreme Courts and the Full Bench of Fair Work Australia; and 
• counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions on a criminal prosecution in the District Court on an indictable offence.

Alison was practising in a wide variety of practice area.  She had provided practical, accurate and often complex advice, often at short notice to meet client’s needs and court deadlines.

Alison had made significant contributions to the legal profession, including the following voluntary activities

• judging University of Adelaide competitions, including mooting
• acting as a guest judge for University of Adelaide final year advocacy students’ interlocutory applications
• delivering a lecture on public interest immunity at the University of Adelaide 
• providing tutoring services to a law student in her own time for no fee 
• informal mentoring to Crown Solicitor’s Office junior employees
• coordinating a social network and functions for young lawyers from different sections within the Crown, which had assisted with organisational communication 
• taking a lead in preparing and presenting continuing legal education for the Crown 
• participating in the Golden Gavel Competition in 2010 
• volunteering assistance with GDLP sessions and promoting law careers at a school career fair in 2009. 

Alison had also achieved competent and efficient results for clients and continuously improved her legal skills and knowledge.

Contribution to Community

Alison was an active participant in her community.  In 2009-10 she had been a family support volunteer with the Australian Refugee association. She had regularly visited a refugee family to assist them to understand their community.

She was a member of the Trinity Baptist Church and a leader of their kids club.  She had regularly cooked meals for a senior citizens’ socialization program, similar to Meals on Wheels. 

Alison was an adjudicator of school debating for the South Australian Debating association.  She had spoken at various functions including het Don Dunstan Foundation’s celebration of the anniversary of the sec Discrimination legislation. 

Alison had commenced teaching a Dispute Resolution and Ethics Class at Adelaide University, sharing her time and practical knowledge with future practitioners.  In October 2011, she joined the Board of Girl Guides South Australia as its volunteer Legal Board Member.  She had been involved in re-drafting the Association’s constitution and bylaws.

In late 2011 Alison had commenced studying a Masters of Law part-time to further her professional knowledge.   She had contributed to a number of continuing legal education sessions within the Crown Solicitor’s Office, including delivering seminars to staff both individually and in groups.

Alison’s thorough and practical legal advice and negotiation skills had been instrumental in settling a number of complex legal disputes in the previous 12 months.   

The following is a summary of Madeleine Harland’s achievements that led to her winning the 2011 Young Lawyers’ Award

Legal Professional Achievement

Madeleine graduated from Adelaide University with a Bachelor of Laws with Honours and a Bachelor of Arts in July 2006. During her tertiary studies, Madeleine earned various awards including prizes in administrative law, immigration and refugee law, legal research and writing.  

From September 2007, Madeleine had spent eighteen months as an Associate to the Honourable Gray J in the Supreme Court.   Madeleine was practising at Lipman Karas as an Associate Solicitor in the areas of dispute resolution, equity and commercial, corporate and insolvency, and trusts and estates. She had rapidly advanced to assume a senior role managing, developing and mentoring a team of junior lawyers.

Madeleine had been extensively involved in the successful resolution of a number of complex commercial claims. Notable matters included (a) the settlement of a contentious trust dispute and shareholder oppression claim in the SA Supreme Court; and (b) the settlement of a major audit negligence claim (being one of the largest and most complex cases ever litigated) in the Hong Kong Court of First Instance. On this project, Madeleine was seconded to Hong Kong for six weeks.  She had a hands-on role in the case preparation and presentation and worked with counsel from London, Hong Kong and Australia.

Madeleine was, at the time of receiving the Award, engaged in complex multi-jurisdictional disputes in the Netherlands, USA and Guernsey which included negligence, breach of trust and fiduciary claims against trust and company directors and investment managers.

Contribution to the Legal Profession

Madeleine was the author of the “Administration and Probate” chapters of the “Australian Succession Law” text co-authored with David Haines QC and Leonie Englefield, published in November 2009. 

Between 2007 to 2009, Madeleine wrote headnotes for the South Australian State Reports and Industrial Reports. Madeleine was at the time of the Award writing headnotes and commentary for the Australian Succession and Trusts Law Reports.

For the past four years, Madeleine had been an active member of the Law Society’s Civil Litigation Committee. She was also a member of Women Lawyers' Association of SA and International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation.

Contribution to the Community

In late 2004, Madeleine had spent a number weeks undertaking volunteer work at the Refugee Service of South Australia.

Madeleine had an ongoing involvement with the University Law Schools. In July 2009, she was a volunteer guest lecturer for the administration and probate components of the succession law course. Madeleine was a volunteer judge at the Flinders and Adelaide University negotiation competitions.

In 2011 Madeleine was seeking to raise in excess of $30,000 as one of 14 members of the Autism SA Charity Ball committee.